Guzmania plant named ‘Freya’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Guzmania  hybrid plant named ‘FREYA’ characterized by solid growth habit; funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 57 cm in height (above the pot when flowering); numerous, yellow-green color foliage, measuring about 45 cm in length and about 3.0 cm to 3.5 cm in width; superior floral bract production primary; bracts have a unique red-purple color (RHS 61B); compound inflorescence, measuring from about 17 cm in height and about 8 cm in diameter; and long-lasting habit.

Latin name of the genus and species of the claimed plant: Guzmaniahybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘FREYA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid cultivar ofGuzmania plant, botanically known as Guzmania hybrida, of the familyBromeliaceae, and hereinafter referred to as ‘FREYA’.

Guzmania is native to tropical America. Guzmania is predominantlyepiphytic with a few terrestrial species and is native to the tropics.For the most part, species vary in diameter from 7 or 8 inches to 3 or 4feet and have rosettes of glossy, smooth-edged leaves. Floral bracts ofGuzmania frequently have brilliant colors and may last for many months.The range of colors for Guzmania is generally from yellow through orangebut may also include flame red and red-purple. White or yellow, tubular,three-petalled flowers may also appear on a stem or within the leafrosette but are usually short-lived. Guzmania may be advantageouslygrown as pot plants for greenhouse or home use. Typically, the plantsare shaded from direct sunlight. During the spring to autumn period, thecentral vase-like part of the leaf rosette is normally filled withwater.

The new Guzmania ‘FREYA’ was discovered and selected by the inventors in2002 as a single flowering plant in a controlled breeding program inAssendelft, The Netherlands. The new Guzmania ‘FREYA’ originated as anaturally occurring whole plant mutation of Guzmania sp. ‘LUNA’(unpatented).

Asexual reproduction of the new Guzmania cultivar was first performed byoff-shoots beginning in 2002 and then by tissue culture beginning in2003 in Assendelft, The Netherlands, with first flowering after asexualreproduction occurring in 2008 in Assendelft, The Netherlands. Asexualreproduction of the Guzmania ‘FREYA’ has demonstrated that thecombination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivarare firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

Methods for cultivation and crossing of Guzmania are well known. For adetailed discussion, reference is made to the following publications,which are incorporated herein by reference: Benzing, David H., THEBIOLOGY OF THE

BROMELIADS, Mad River Press, Inc., Eureka (1980); Zimmer, Karl,BROMELIEN, Verlag, Paul Parey, Berlin (1986); and Rauh, Werner,BROMELIEN, Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (1981).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘FREYA’ which in combination distinguishthis Guzmania as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Solid growth habit;    -   2. Funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 57 cm in height        (above the pot when flowering);    -   3. Numerous, yellow-green color foliage, measuring about 45 cm        in length and about 3.0 cm to 3.5 cm in width;    -   4. Superior floral bract production;    -   5. Primary bracts have a unique red-purple color (RHS 61B);    -   6. Compound inflorescence, measuring from about 17 cm in height        and about 8 cm in diameter; and    -   7. Long-lasting habit.

Plants of the parental cultivar, Guzmania sp. ‘LUNA’ (unpatented), areno longer available to provide a botanical comparison with the newGuzmania ‘FREYA’.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, themost similar in comparison to the new Guzmania ‘FREYA’ is the Guzmaniahybrid ‘SWITCH’ (patented, U.S. Pat. No. 6,695,064). Plants of the newGuzmania ‘FREYA’ differ from plants of ‘SWITCH’ primarily in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of ‘FREYA’ produce compound inflorescence which are        red-purple (closest to RHS 61B) in color and measure at maturity        about 57 cm in length and about 70 cm in diameter whereas plants        of ‘SWITCH’ produce compound inflorescence which are purple-red        (closest to RHS 185A) in color and measure at maturity about 55        cm in length and about 60 cm in width; and    -   2. Plants of ‘FREYA’ produce leaves that measure about 45 cm in        length and about 3.0 cm to 3.5 cm in width whereas plants of        ‘SWITCH’ produce leaves that measure about 40 cm in length and        about 3.0 cm to 4.0 cm in width.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Guzmania ‘FREYA’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describes the color of‘FREYA’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of the primary and top bractsproduced by a typical potted, flowering plant of ‘FREYA’, at 17 monthsof age from potting size.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up top view perspective of the inflorescence andtop bracts produced by a typical potted, flowering plant of ‘FREYA’, at17 months of age from potting size.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘FREYA’ has not been tested and observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may varywith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,frequency of fertilization, composition of fertilizer, floweringtreatment, day length and humidity, without any change in the genotypeof the plant.

For example, substantial differences in plant height and diameter,number of leaves, can result depending on the size of the plant at thetime that flowering is induced. Since treatment to induce floweringdisrupts normal watering and fertilization regimens, flowering treatmentof relatively smaller plants adversely affects the growth of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new Guzmania ‘FREYA’as grown in a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice. Plants of ‘FREYA’ were grown in a greenhouse with daytemperatures ranging from 20° C. to 28° C. and night temperaturesranging from 18° C. to 23° C. No artificial lighting or photoperiodictreatments were conducted, but plants of ‘FREYA’ are forced intoflowering. The following fertilizer is added when growing plants of‘FREYA’: 1 part nitrogen, 0.6 parts phosphor, 2 parts Kalium and 0.1parts magnesium.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsin a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the plants of‘FREYA’ described is about 17 weeks after flowering treatment.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Guzmania hybrida.-   Parentage: Naturally occurring mutation of Guzmania sp. ‘LUNA’    (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   General appearance and form.—Height: About 57 cm (when            flowering). Width: About 70 cm. Shape: Funnel form rosette.        -   Growth habit.—Stemless.        -   Plant vigor.—Good.        -   Flowering season.—A fully grown plant can flower year round,            starting 17 weeks after induction of natural light or            through flowering treatment.        -   Cold tolerance.—Frost tender. Temperatures below 5° C. may            damage plants.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Foliage:    -   -   Quantity.—About 18 (depending on the size of the plant).        -   Size of leaf.—Length: About 45 cm (when flowering). Width:            About 3.0 to 3.5 cm.        -   Overall shape.—Linear-lanceolate.        -   Apex shape.—Acuminate.        -   Base shape.—Strap-like around central axis.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Orientation.—Leaf blades arch continuously from base.        -   Color.—Leaf color can vary somewhat depending on growing            conditions Mature: Upper surface: Yellow-green, RHS 147A.            Under surface: Green, RHS 137A with flush anthocyanin.            Immature: Upper surface: Yellow-green, RHS 147A. Under            surface: Green, RHS 137A.        -   Venation.—None.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Borne.—Erect stalks.        -   Shape.—Compound.        -   Size.—Length (increases with maturity): About 17. Diameter:            About 18 cm.        -   Time of bloom.—A fully grown plant can produce an            inflorescence containing about 100 flowers (depending on the            size of the plants), and can bloom the whole year starting            about 17 weeks after natural induction or through flowering            treatment.        -   Duration of bloom.—Each flower blooms one (1) day and the            total blooming of the whole inflorescence is about five (5)            weeks.        -   Petals.—Number: 3 per flower. Length: About 6.0 cm. Width:            About 0.5 cm. Overall shape: Ligulate. Apex shape: Obtuse.            Base shape: Fused. Color: Upper and under surfaces: Yellow,            RHS 8C.        -   Sepals.—Number: 3 per flower. Length: About 3.5 cm. Width:            About 0.5 cm. Overall shape: Ligulate. Apex shape: Acute.            Base shape: Fused. Color: Translucent.-   Bracts:    -   -   Scape bracts.—Quantity: About 12. Arrangement: Alternate.            Size: Length: About 27 cm (lowest) to about 18 cm (scape            bracts positioned just below the primary bracts). Width:            About 3.5 cm. Overall shape: Lanceolate. Apex shape: Acute.            Base shape: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth. Color:            Upper surface: Yellow-green, RHS 147A, with red-purple, RHS            61B. Scape bracts become more red-purple in color, closer to            the primary bracts. Under surface: Green, RHS 137A, with            red-purple, RHS 61B. Scape bracts become more red-purple in            color, closer to the primary bracts.        -   Primary bracts.—Quantity: About 9. Arrangement: Alternate.            Size: Length: About 17 cm (lowest) to about 9 cm (primary            bracts become shorter closer to the top of plant). Width:            About 3.0 cm. Overall shape: Lanceolate. Apex shape: Acute.            Base shape: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth. Color:            Upper and Under surfaces: Red-purple, RHS 61B        -   Floral bracts.—Disposed within the inflorescence.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Number: 6 per flower. Length: About            5.0 cm. Diameter: About 1.0 mm. Color: White. Anther:            Length: About 0.6 cm. Color: Cream. Pollen: Amount: Scarce.            Color: Cream.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: Number: 1 per flower. Length: About            5.5 cm. Stigma: Shape: 3-parted. Width: About 4.0 mm. Color:            White. Style: Length: About 4.5 cm. Color: White. Ovary:            Position: Superior. Shape: Conical. Length: About 0.6 cm.            Diameter: About 0.3 cm. Color: Light green, RHS 144C.-   Seeds/fruit: Sterile hybrid, therefore, no seed or fruit produced.-   Disease/pest resistance: No observations made.-   Disease/pest susceptibility: No observations made.

1. A new and distinct Guzmania hybrid plant named ‘FREYA’, substantiallyas illustrated and described herein.